Work at Kennaway Tunnel today
Roger Salter
Roger Salter
After watching & photographing this for many months, there is still much the same work,reinforcing the Cliffside at Kennaway Tunnel.
The East Portal area looks as though water has got behind the netting.
The East Portal area looks as though water has got behind the netting.
Many Thanks Roger
Par Re-signalling - Day 5
Neil Phillips
Hello Roger and Keith,
Three days after my last report I went down to Par station this afternoon (Friday) to check on progress. The first sight along the footpath alongside the line was Par's 'Last Man' still standing but now like the rest without signal arms, spectacle lenses or its remaining finial. Just around the corner the new down start signal has finally been hoisted into position in front of the old post and 'fired up' - I first photographed this lying on the ballast awaiting its time early last summer.
At the station the iconic bracket signal adjacent to the signal box has been removed and its replacement was in the process of assembly, with what appears to be its 'feather' lying on the platform. At the east end the Platform 3 up starter signal post which had stood on the platform has gone and a new angled post and head installed. Platform 2 new up starter has also been raised in front of the old post, and there is a new up signal for the goods loop. Due to the level of 'orange activity' on the island platform today I remained on Platform 1.
Beyond the road bridge the down goods loop has received its new signal - one hopes this will see more use than the old one did in recent times! The replacement for the bracket signal is located out of sight around the corner and I understand will now include access to the down goods loop.
The weather forecast suggests my next visit will have to be Monday afternoon.....!
Best regards
Neil Phillips
Three days after my last report I went down to Par station this afternoon (Friday) to check on progress. The first sight along the footpath alongside the line was Par's 'Last Man' still standing but now like the rest without signal arms, spectacle lenses or its remaining finial. Just around the corner the new down start signal has finally been hoisted into position in front of the old post and 'fired up' - I first photographed this lying on the ballast awaiting its time early last summer.
At the station the iconic bracket signal adjacent to the signal box has been removed and its replacement was in the process of assembly, with what appears to be its 'feather' lying on the platform. At the east end the Platform 3 up starter signal post which had stood on the platform has gone and a new angled post and head installed. Platform 2 new up starter has also been raised in front of the old post, and there is a new up signal for the goods loop. Due to the level of 'orange activity' on the island platform today I remained on Platform 1.
Beyond the road bridge the down goods loop has received its new signal - one hopes this will see more use than the old one did in recent times! The replacement for the bracket signal is located out of sight around the corner and I understand will now include access to the down goods loop.
The weather forecast suggests my next visit will have to be Monday afternoon.....!
Best regards
Neil Phillips
Par's up home bracket signal now looking a little sorry for itself. 8th March 2024. Copyright Neil Phillips.
New and (remains of) the old down start signals together - temporarily. 8th March 2024. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Assembly of the replacement for the iconic bracket signal at the signal box in progress - note the 'feather' lying on the platform. Newquay branch departures and passing Class 66s on clay empties will never be the same...... 8th March 2024. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Let's hope this new Down Goods Loop signal sees more action than the old one has lately! 8th March 2024. Copyright Neil Phillips.
East end of Par station with three new signals on show, and two already 'fired up' beyond the footbridge. 8th March 2024. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Thank you very much, Neil.
These images have also been added to the ever-growing resignalling section.
These images have also been added to the ever-growing resignalling section.
NMT On The Seawall At Dawlish & Teignmouth
Clive Smith
The NMT Network Rail Measurement Train seen on Friday 8th at Rockstone Bridge Dawlish and earlier in a bitterly cold wind at Teignmouth with the 1Q18 09.06 Reading Triangle Sidings - Paignton via Plymouth. The train will then reverse at Dawlish Warren and head to Paignton. This train is monthly and the 'down' usually passes here around 08.30 on its way to Penzance but with major engineering work taking place in Cornwall with re-signalling the train was retimed to four hours later.
My plan was to photo the afternoon up and down at Rockstone at 14.53 and 15.06. Warren. Well that was the plan. The sun had come out which was most welcome but the sea was very stormy with high tide just over two hours away. From the safety of Rockstone Bridge I took the 'up' shots and wondered at the guy walking along the sea wall, surely due a dousing as the waves were crashing into the wall and spray was lashing over the track though not apparent when I snapped this. Sure enough a wave got him and he appeared up the steps to the bridge absolutely soaked. His attempts to anticipate the breaking waves by speeding up and stopping had failed miserably. As I'd got these shots in the bag I then started to think of the possibilities of getting the return NMT 'trackside' and a crashing wave at the same time. A tall order but worth a punt I thought. To do this I had to go on the wall under the bridge where the bridge support provided refuge from the waves. That's what I thought but the wind was whipping the spray in at both sides but I stuck at it and as the NMT approached my camera was getting covered in fine spray which I was furiously wiping off with little success. As the NMT got to the crucial point for the photo there were waves but the camera was confused on what to focus on and I ended up with a blurry shot. I did manage a clear shot off 800309 in between lens wiping on the 14.15 Plymouth - Paddington. To cap it all I then got hit by a big wave as I ran back up the steps and got thoroughly soaked for my hair-brained idea. Serves me right.
Regards
Clive Smith
My plan was to photo the afternoon up and down at Rockstone at 14.53 and 15.06. Warren. Well that was the plan. The sun had come out which was most welcome but the sea was very stormy with high tide just over two hours away. From the safety of Rockstone Bridge I took the 'up' shots and wondered at the guy walking along the sea wall, surely due a dousing as the waves were crashing into the wall and spray was lashing over the track though not apparent when I snapped this. Sure enough a wave got him and he appeared up the steps to the bridge absolutely soaked. His attempts to anticipate the breaking waves by speeding up and stopping had failed miserably. As I'd got these shots in the bag I then started to think of the possibilities of getting the return NMT 'trackside' and a crashing wave at the same time. A tall order but worth a punt I thought. To do this I had to go on the wall under the bridge where the bridge support provided refuge from the waves. That's what I thought but the wind was whipping the spray in at both sides but I stuck at it and as the NMT approached my camera was getting covered in fine spray which I was furiously wiping off with little success. As the NMT got to the crucial point for the photo there were waves but the camera was confused on what to focus on and I ended up with a blurry shot. I did manage a clear shot off 800309 in between lens wiping on the 14.15 Plymouth - Paddington. To cap it all I then got hit by a big wave as I ran back up the steps and got thoroughly soaked for my hair-brained idea. Serves me right.
Regards
Clive Smith
The NMT at Teignmouth working 1Q18 09.06 Reading Triangle Sidings - Paignton via Plymouth 08.03.2024. Copyright Clive Smith.
The NMT on the Dawlish Sea Wall working 1Q18 09.06 Reading Triangle Sidings - Paignton via Plymouth 08.03.2024. Copyright Clive Smith.
The NMT on the Dawlish Sea Wall working 1Q18 09.06 Reading Triangle Sidings - Paignton via Plymouth 08.03.2024. Copyright Clive Smith.
A GWR IET unit passing the sea wall with the sea raging. 08.03.2024, copyright Clive Smith.
Thank you very much for sharing these fine images with us Clive, the things we do in pursuit of the perfect photo!
Engineering at Lostwithiel
Alan Peters
Colas Rail 70803 with 6C27 top and tailed with 70814 (out of sight) new signal CL5796 replacing LL52 which has been removed and placed to one side for recovery on 07/03/24. Copyright Alan Peters.
Small Volker Rail Kirow 25 tonne crane DRK 81621 "Smithy" lifts the new replacement catch point for the Up Goods loop on 07/03/24. Copyright Alan Peters
Volker Rail small crane DRK81622 'Sarge' with 'Smithy' at Lostwithiel in the evening of 07/03/24. Copyright Alan Peters
Our continued thanks go out to Alan for providing us with excellent behind-the-scenes images such as those above.
Many more of Alans images have been added to the Resignalling Section - simply click here and then expand the 'Lostwithiel' segment to view them.
Many more of Alans images have been added to the Resignalling Section - simply click here and then expand the 'Lostwithiel' segment to view them.
Happy days at Par
Jon Hird
In the early 2000's, Par was an interesting place to spend a few hours on a weekday morning. One of my favourite parts was when the ECS TPO would arrive from Penzance, run around, and then depart into St. Blazey yard. Summer 2003 and that's what is happening here as a class 67 reverses onto the stock outside Par Signal Box. Copyright Jon Hird.